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Mme de Florian’s Apartment

Mme de Florian’s Apartment “In April 2010 a Parisian apartment on the Right Bank, near the Opéra Garnier, left unoccupied since 1942 was discovered. It was owned by Madame de Florian, a socialite and actress, who fled to the South of France during the second world war, leaving everything behind. She never came back to Paris but kept on paying her rent until the day she died when she was 91. It’s only after she died that Olivier Choppin-Janvry, an Auctioneer entered her apartment for the first time in over 70 years.

This painting represents “demimondaine” Marthe de Florian, the owner’s grandmother, and was sold for record price of 2,1 million euros at Drouot saleshouse on September 2010, 28. / MARC OTTAVI, Place: Paris,FRANCE, (credit AFP)

“There was a smell of old dust,” said Olivier Choppin-Janvry who made the discovery. Walking under high wooden ceilings, past an old wood stove and stone sink in the kitchen, he spotted a stuffed ostrich and a Mickey Mouse toy dating from before the war. Taxidermy pieces were commonly found throughout Mme de Florian’s apartment. It was common to have taxidermy in one’s home back in the day, in fact, having a few as home decor was a sign of affluence. They also found a painting by Giovanni Boldini, the subject a beautiful woman who turned out to be the artist’s former muse, Marthe de Florian, the owner’s grandmother, the painting was sold for €2.1 million, a world record for the artist. The rest was left undisturbed to this day. Unfortunately, this home is not open to the public and it is owned entirely by her estate.” (via belloblog) (photocredits: Getty Images)